Experimental Investigation of Xanthan Foam Rheology

摘要

In this work, experimental investigation was carriedout on xanthan gel and xanthan foam rheology employing apipe flow viscometer at 1000 psi. A nominal ?” stainless steelpipe was used as the flow conduit. Xanthan concentrations of20, 30, and 40 lb/Mgal were used as the gelling agent toprepare xanthan fluids. Surfactant at 0.5% (vol.) was used asthe foaming agent. Nitrogen was used as the gas phase. Foamswere prepared and tested for qualities ranging from zero to80% at various shear rates and at temperatures ranging from75 to 200 Of.The flow data showed that both xanthan gel andxanthan foam exhibited a behavior analogous to Herschel-Bulkley model fluids. It was found that the foam viscosityincreases as the foam quality increases and more viscousliquid phase generated higher foam viscosities. The increase oftemperature had an adverse effect on foam viscosity andstability. Viscosity isotherms were generated for the xanthanfoam.New empirical correlations for the xanthan gel andxanthan foam have been developed from the experimental datagenerated. These correlations are functions of liquid phaseproperties and foam quality and can be used to predictapparent viscosity of foam fluids for the conditionsinvestigated. The use of these new correlations will provide abetter estimation of the xanthan gel and xanthan foam fluidrheological properties.